Staff union urges Governor to intervene in KTU’s financial deadlock

The Confederation of University Employees Organisations, Kerala, (CUEO) has submitted a memorandum to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, seeking urgent intervention to facilitate the disbursal of salaries and pensions for employees and retirees of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU).

The organisation also accused the Vice-Chancellor of ‘failure to follow the proper procedures’ outlined in the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act, 2015, which led to financial crisis in the institution. According to the CUEO, the failure to pass the annual Budget has pushed the university into a state of uncertainty.

Powers invoked earlier

The confederation criticised the Vice-Chancellor for his handling of the situation. It pointed out that while the V-C had invoked special powers for various matters, the administration has failed to take similar action in the case of delayed salaries. The Vice-Chancellor had earlier invoked special powers to permit financial transactions up to June 30. However, since then, with no full Budget, the university has found itself unable to process further financial transactions. This has left employees and retirees in a precarious situation, the organisation said.

“The employees and pensioners of the university are being denied salary and pension even during the occasion of Onam,” the confederation said.

The CUEO urged the Chancellor to direct the Vice-Chancellor to authorise the continuation of recurring financial expenditures, including salaries and pensions, until the Budget is formally passed.